Funders might assume that charities will be excited about the recent growth in social investment markets. New Philanthropy Capital (they do the best work!) produced A guide to social investment for charities in November 2011.

Charities need to think carefully before taking on social investment: they need to understand the risks and take steps to mitigate them, and be clear how the investment will create social benefit and improve the lives of their beneficiaries. For charities that have considered the risks fully and are confident of a future income stream, social investment can be an effective way to enable them to do more for the people they help.